LOS ANGELES, California, Dec. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2022: Two men - one from Wisconsin, the other from North Carolina - have been charged with participating in a "swatting" spree that, over a one-week span, gained access to a dozen Ring home security door cameras nationwide, placed bogus emergency phone calls designed to elicit an armed police response, then livestreamed the events on social media,   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: * * * Initiative includes Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, New York, Virginia * * * The U.S. Department of Labor announced the selection of seven states to participate in the second round of an initiative that seeks to align state policy and funding to advance competitive integrated employment for individuals with mental health conditions. Administered by the department's Office of Disability E  more

BUTTE, Montana, Dec. 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * Company to pay Clean Water Act penalty for discharge of fuel into Blacktail Creek * * * The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a Clean Water Act (CWA) settlement with Red Mountain Truck Lines, Inc. (Red Mountain), in which Red Mountain agreed to pay $18,000 for alleged Clean Water Act violations associated with a gas station transfer incident which spilled diesel fuel  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2022: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $1.3 million in Emergency Relief funds for use by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) as a down payment to offset cost of repair work needed to repair roads and bridges damaged by heavy floods in North Central and Northeast  more

KALISPELL, Montana, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service unit - Flathead National Forest - issued the following news release: The Flathead National Forest is pleased to announce the award of two campground concession special use permits to operate and maintain Forest recreation facilities in the Flathead National Forest. The selected entities will begin operation of the sites in 2023. These special use permits expire on December 31, 2027 with an option to extend f  more

HELENA, Montana, Dec. 20 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2022: Together with half of the nation's governors, Governor Greg Gianforte today called on President Joe Biden to end the public health emergency (PHE) and its associated mandates burdening taxpayers. "It has been nearly three years since the federal government has declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," the governors wrote. "While the virus will be with us fo  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Dec. 15, 2022: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 230,000 to 231,000. The 4-week moving average was 227,250, a decrease of 3,000 fr  more

MALMSTROM AFB, Montana, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Air Force Malmstrom Air Force Base (341st Missile Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Mary Bowers, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Despite the weather growing colder and conditions on Malmstrom becoming more hazardous, the Airmen of the 40th Helicopter Squadron are continuing to run winter weather training exercises. Through its use of the UH-1N Huey, the 40th HS is able to perform aerial surveillance of Department of Defense stra  more